Levels of burnout and its association with resilience and coping mechanisms among orthopaedic surgery residents: a single institution experience from Singapore

Introduction: Burnout has implications for surgeon wellbeing and patient care. We aimed to: (a) describe burnout levels among orthopaedic surgery residents in an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-International (ACGME-I) accredited programme; and (b) determine associations between...

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Main Authors: Sean WL Ho, Ernest BK Kwek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer – Medknow Publications 2022-07-01
Series:Singapore Medical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.11622/smedj.2021010
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author Sean WL Ho
Ernest BK Kwek
author_facet Sean WL Ho
Ernest BK Kwek
author_sort Sean WL Ho
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Burnout has implications for surgeon wellbeing and patient care. We aimed to: (a) describe burnout levels among orthopaedic surgery residents in an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-International (ACGME-I) accredited programme; and (b) determine associations between burnout levels and resident characteristics, resilience and coping mechanisms. Methods: This is a grant-funded, cross-sectional questionnaire-based study that included 44 orthopaedic surgery residents. Burnout was measured using Maslach Burnout Inventory and resilience was determined using the Short Grit Scale. Coping mechanisms were determined using the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced scale. Results: 20 (45.5%) residents fulfilled the criteria for burnout. High levels of emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalisation (DP) correlated with stressors, such as inadequate sleep (EE: r = 0.43, P <0.01; DP: r = 0.33, P <0.05), conflict between family and work (EE: r = 0.40, P <0.01; DP: r = 0.40, P <0.01), financial pressure (DP: r = 0.46, P <0.01), and conflict with residents (EE: r = 0.35, P <0.05; DP: r = 0.34, P <0.05) and faculty (EE: r = 0.44, P <0.01; DP: r = 0.35, P<0.05). Severe burnout was associated with lower grit scores (p <0.05). Coping mechanisms, such as planning and positive reframing, were protective while behavioural disengagement and substance use may increase burnout risk. Conclusion: Burnout was high in our ACGME-I accredited programme. Stressors associated with higher burnout included feeling of inadequate sleep, poor work-life balance, poor relationships with fellow residents/faculty and financial pressures. Residents should be educated on protective coping mechanisms and regular screening to detect burnout should be performed.
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spelling doaj-art-89ce233974974a2088928bcf3f88fb3c2025-02-10T05:21:26ZengWolters Kluwer – Medknow PublicationsSingapore Medical Journal0037-56752737-59352022-07-0163738138710.11622/smedj.2021010Levels of burnout and its association with resilience and coping mechanisms among orthopaedic surgery residents: a single institution experience from SingaporeSean WL HoErnest BK KwekIntroduction: Burnout has implications for surgeon wellbeing and patient care. We aimed to: (a) describe burnout levels among orthopaedic surgery residents in an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-International (ACGME-I) accredited programme; and (b) determine associations between burnout levels and resident characteristics, resilience and coping mechanisms. Methods: This is a grant-funded, cross-sectional questionnaire-based study that included 44 orthopaedic surgery residents. Burnout was measured using Maslach Burnout Inventory and resilience was determined using the Short Grit Scale. Coping mechanisms were determined using the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced scale. Results: 20 (45.5%) residents fulfilled the criteria for burnout. High levels of emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalisation (DP) correlated with stressors, such as inadequate sleep (EE: r = 0.43, P <0.01; DP: r = 0.33, P <0.05), conflict between family and work (EE: r = 0.40, P <0.01; DP: r = 0.40, P <0.01), financial pressure (DP: r = 0.46, P <0.01), and conflict with residents (EE: r = 0.35, P <0.05; DP: r = 0.34, P <0.05) and faculty (EE: r = 0.44, P <0.01; DP: r = 0.35, P<0.05). Severe burnout was associated with lower grit scores (p <0.05). Coping mechanisms, such as planning and positive reframing, were protective while behavioural disengagement and substance use may increase burnout risk. Conclusion: Burnout was high in our ACGME-I accredited programme. Stressors associated with higher burnout included feeling of inadequate sleep, poor work-life balance, poor relationships with fellow residents/faculty and financial pressures. Residents should be educated on protective coping mechanisms and regular screening to detect burnout should be performed.https://journals.lww.com/10.11622/smedj.2021010burnoutcopingorthopaedic surgeryresidentsresilience
spellingShingle Sean WL Ho
Ernest BK Kwek
Levels of burnout and its association with resilience and coping mechanisms among orthopaedic surgery residents: a single institution experience from Singapore
Singapore Medical Journal
burnout
coping
orthopaedic surgery
residents
resilience
title Levels of burnout and its association with resilience and coping mechanisms among orthopaedic surgery residents: a single institution experience from Singapore
title_full Levels of burnout and its association with resilience and coping mechanisms among orthopaedic surgery residents: a single institution experience from Singapore
title_fullStr Levels of burnout and its association with resilience and coping mechanisms among orthopaedic surgery residents: a single institution experience from Singapore
title_full_unstemmed Levels of burnout and its association with resilience and coping mechanisms among orthopaedic surgery residents: a single institution experience from Singapore
title_short Levels of burnout and its association with resilience and coping mechanisms among orthopaedic surgery residents: a single institution experience from Singapore
title_sort levels of burnout and its association with resilience and coping mechanisms among orthopaedic surgery residents a single institution experience from singapore
topic burnout
coping
orthopaedic surgery
residents
resilience
url https://journals.lww.com/10.11622/smedj.2021010
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